The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[Laissez-Faire Economics]

"Hah, wow!" exclaims the businessman. "This place must be full of aliens. This could be a perfect opportunity!" He opens his phone and searches for zoos in his home nation and their offered finder's fees for live specimens.

A voice seemingly coming out of nowhere says quietly just behind his left ear, "Only try to treat sapient aliens as animals for a zoo, if you also don't mind the chance of ending up on the menu of an alien restaurant."

"Hey, who said that?" the businessman demands. "Look, you mind your own investments, I know what people want! Even a few of these aliens would make me a fortune in no time."

[Allied Sapients]

"Hey, who said that?" the businessman demands. "Look, you mind your own investments, I know what people want! Even a few of these aliens would make me a fortune in no time."

Ambassador Olsh approaches the businessmen. “It would cost far more than any ‘fortune’ you stand to make,” she warns. “The Coalition has dealt with far more competent and better armed pirates than yourself, and we will not see them set a foothold in any place we exist.”

[Hiachijan]

"Hey, who said that?" the businessman demands. "Look, you mind your own investments, I know what people want! Even a few of these aliens would make me a fortune in no time."

Ambassador Olsh approaches the businessmen. “It would cost far more than any ‘fortune’ you stand to make,” she warns. “The Coalition has dealt with far more competent and better armed pirates than yourself, and we will not see them set a foothold in any place we exist.”

The Imoya ambassador approaches the two.

"Hey, hey, did someone mention a 'fortune?' I mean, eh, we could do business, whatever it is, I'm up for it," she says naively, while performing some idiotic jig.

[Allied Sapients]

"Absolutely true. I'm Military," she pointed to a series of badge-pins on her uniform that assuredly meant absolutely nothing to the foreigner, "It's standard for soldiers. Metal's more resilient than bone, and baseline bodies just aren't built for the stresses of powered armor."

Rirten clicked softly in confusion. “But... I’m sorry, I’m having trouble understanding why you would do that. If you get in a fight, crunch someone’s arm, that arm can heal. Metal is expensive, and can’t heal on its own, and gets little invisible stresses that means it’ll just break and you won’t know anything’s wrong until it fails. And why would you power armor?”

The Northerner idea of a military was far from anything the Imperium would consider such. It was hard to have anything resembling a standing army when your total population as a species was in the low thousands.

The Tikrr diplomatic staff had undergone some extra training on how to interact with aliens, based on the data from their interactions with the Betian elf known - these days - to them as Iksana Gayan Tikilikrr, the first alien to be adopted into a Roost.

Turning her full attention to the alien in the encounter suit. "But I meant, how can you live in the water? Solid things sink in liquids. Or they float and require external force to be moved about. Water is familiar to me only as rain in my native environment."

“We just do?” Rirten sounded confused that this was even a question. “I mean, it’s not hard to stay in one place in the water, and if you take a big breath of air and hold it you can float up by the surface if you want. But mostly we stay near the reefs where it’s easy to hunker down and sleep, or talk, or hunt, or any of a dozen things you can do staying still. The water’s not very deep on the coast, too, so it’s easy to go from the bottom to the surface, or the reverse.”

They glanced over at Ambassador Olsh. Perfect, she was distracted with other things and couldn’t drop by to say things like ‘no’ and ‘Rirten, why do you keep inviting complete strangers over?’. “How about I show you? Both of you? We have a shuttle outside in the parking lot, and my room in it has a pool. It would be a lot more comfortable than in here too, because it’s warm.”

[Separatist Peoples]

Ambassador Bell opened the door to the Bar, letting in three scruffy looking men with scraggly beards carrying instruments. They made their way to the stage pulling a quick sound check as they went. Between them, there was a stand-up bass, a fiddle, and an old washboard.

Bell set up a microphone and slung a beaten up old banjo on his shoulder.

"Evenin' folks. Welcome to Impromptu Karaoke Night. The last time this was done, the Bears brought down the house with There's Honey in the Jar, so I thought we'd give them a run for their money. Not many of you probably know this, but it's moonshine season in the C.D.S.P.. Just like every season is. So, in celebration: That Good ol' Mountain Dew!

"One, two, one two three..."

There's a big hollow tree down the road here from me
Where you lay down a greenback or two.
Well you go round the bend and when you come back again
There's a jug full of good ole mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

Now my uncle Mort, he's sawed off and short,
He measures about four foot two.
But he thinks he's a giant when you give him a pint
Of that good ole mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

My Uncle Hank bought an ol' Corps tank
Way back in 'se’nty two.
It didn't need no gas and it went awful fast
Running on that good ol' mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

Well my cousin Bill's got a still on the hill
Where he runs of a gallon or two.
Now the buzzards in the sky get so drunk, they can't fly!
From smellin' the good ole mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

The band finishes with a flourish, and Bell grabs the mic. "And in celebration of 'shine season, I've got the latest from the family still: Several casks of aged Applejack. Just ask Neville to fill up your jug!"

Bell takes a bow.

[Tinfect]

Rirten clicked softly in confusion. “But... I’m sorry, I’m having trouble understanding why you would do that. If you get in a fight, crunch someone’s arm, that arm can heal. Metal is expensive, and can’t heal on its own, and gets little invisible stresses that means it’ll just break and you won’t know anything’s wrong until it fails. And why would you power armor?”

The Northerner idea of a military was far from anything the Imperium would consider such. It was hard to have anything resembling a standing army when your total population as a species was in the low thousands.

Stars, if that hadn't been informative she didn't know what was; she really was dealing with a primitive here. A primitive in an environment suit with computer controls and translation. Whatever these Jarans were, they weren't doing a good job uplifting. "Well, you won't likely 'crunch' that arm in the first place, and if you do, you just replace it; it's just logistics. As for powered armor, well," she stopped a moment. There was only really one way to explain it, and she sure wasn't an engineer. "Your people know a club, or a mace? Imagine if you had armor that could make you swing it harder. Then, grab a gun instead."

They glanced over at Ambassador Olsh. Perfect, she was distracted with other things and couldn’t drop by to say things like ‘no’ and ‘Rirten, why do you keep inviting complete strangers over?’. “How about I show you? Both of you? We have a shuttle outside in the parking lot, and my room in it has a pool. It would be a lot more comfortable than in here too, because it’s warm.”

"Evenin' folks. Welcome to Impromptu karaoke night. The last time this was done, the Bears brought down the house with There's Honey in the Jar, so I thought we'd give them a run for their money. Not many of you probably know this, but it's moonshine season in the C.D.S.P.. Just like every season is. So, in celebration: That Good ol' Mountain Dew!
[...]

She had half a mind to object before the CDSP delegation came in and started playing the monstrous noise that foreigners considered music, and hell, she was armed, there wasn't anything Rirten could do to her anyway. If they were talking about the same parking lot, she might even have time to show them the Imperial landing craft, and see how it compared to the technology of this 'coalition'.

"Lead on Rirten, has to be better than this!"

[Laissez-Faire Economics]

"Hey, who said that?" the businessman demands. "Look, you mind your own investments, I know what people want! Even a few of these aliens would make me a fortune in no time."

Ambassador Olsh approaches the businessmen. “It would cost far more than any ‘fortune’ you stand to make,” she warns. “The Coalition has dealt with far more competent and better armed pirates than yourself, and we will not see them set a foothold in any place we exist.”

The businessman stands up, offended. "You watch your tongue, alien! I haven't worked in the looting business for years now, and I have no intention of going back! It's far too precarious a profession, and reeks of ill-gotten profit. Game hunting and the animal trade, however, are perfectly legitimate businesses."

"Hey, who said that?" the businessman demands. "Look, you mind your own investments, I know what people want! Even a few of these aliens would make me a fortune in no time."

Ambassador Olsh approaches the businessmen. “It would cost far more than any ‘fortune’ you stand to make,” she warns. “The Coalition has dealt with far more competent and better armed pirates than yourself, and we will not see them set a foothold in any place we exist.”

The Imoya ambassador approaches the two.

"Hey, hey, did someone mention a 'fortune?' I mean, eh, we could do business, whatever it is, I'm up for it," she says naively, while performing some idiotic jig.

"Ooh, no! I am not splitting the earnings with you." He stops and squints at the Imoya, and then at the Jaran. "You two are conspiring to stop me, aren't you? No matter, I'll get this operation through no matter the resistance."

[Wallenburg]

Mikael's eyes flash at the opportunity for free alcohol, but Jennifer stares him down. "Uh-uh, I'm not going to deal with another visit to the hospital tonight. Come on, we have reports to the War Department to finish, they want a timeline for the next five proposal submissions."

[Giant Bats]

They glanced over at Ambassador Olsh. Perfect, she was distracted with other things and couldn’t drop by to say things like ‘no’ and ‘Rirten, why do you keep inviting complete strangers over?’. “How about I show you? Both of you? We have a shuttle outside in the parking lot, and my room in it has a pool. It would be a lot more comfortable than in here too, because it’s warm.”

She had half a mind to object before the CDSP delegation came in and started playing the monstrous noise that foreigners considered music, and hell, she was armed, there wasn't anything Rirten could do to her anyway. If they were talking about the same parking lot, she might even have time to show them the Imperial landing craft, and see how it compared to the technology of this 'coalition'.

"Lead on Rirten, has to be better than this!"

Despite being able to selectively shut off parts of her hearing, Ikiti had to agree with the Tinfectian. The speakers that ambassador Bell's voice was amplified through, emitted a higher-pitched whine that was probably inaudible to most of the species here, but was an annoying buzzing to her ears. She, however, had no intention of following the heavy creatures through the narrow corridors of the building.

"I will meet you outside," she said simply and went to a window to leave. She left the window open in case any of the critters talking about some commercial venture in heated voices ended up getting thrown out. Just common courtesy, really.

[Bears Armed]

Ambassador Bell opened the door to the Bar, letting in three scruffy looking men with scraggly beards carrying instruments. They made their way to the stage pulling a quick sound check as they went. Between them, there was a stand-up bass, a fiddle, and an old washboard.

Bell set up a microphone and slung a beaten up old banjo on his shoulder.

"Evenin' folks. Welcome to Impromptu Karaoke Night. The last time this was done, the Bears brought down the house with There's Honey in the Jar, so I thought we'd give them a run for their money. Not many of you probably know this, but it's moonshine season in the C.D.S.P.. Just like every season is. So, in celebration: That Good ol' Mountain Dew!

"One, two, one two three..."

There's a big hollow tree down the road here from me
Where you lay down a greenback or two.
Well you go round the bend and when you come back again
There's a jug full of good ole mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

Now my uncle Mort, he's sawed off and short,
He measures about four foot two.
But he thinks he's a giant when you give him a pint
Of that good ole mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

My Uncle Hank bought an ol' Corps tank
Way back in 'se’nty two.
It didn't need no gas and it went awful fast
Running on that good ol' mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

Well my cousin Bill's got a still on the hill
Where he runs of a gallon or two.
Now the buzzards in the sky get so drunk, they can't fly!
From smellin' the good ole mountain dew!

Oh they call it that ole mountain dew!
And them that refuse it are few.
I'll shut up my mug if you fill up my jug
With some good ole mountain dew!

The band finishes with a flourish, and Bell grabs the mic. "And in celebration of 'shine season, I've got the latest from the family still: Several casks of aged Applejack. Just ask Neville to fill up your jug!"

Bell takes a bow.

Three Bears who were sitting quietly at a table, eating fish & chips and drinking herbal cha, all applaud loudly. One of them picks up an empty carafe from their table, and goes over to the bar to get it filled with the promised beverage.

[Allied Sapients]

She had half a mind to object before the CDSP delegation came in and started playing the monstrous noise that foreigners considered music, and hell, she was armed, there wasn't anything Rirten could do to her anyway. If they were talking about the same parking lot, she might even have time to show them the Imperial landing craft, and see how it compared to the technology of this 'coalition'.

"Lead on Rirten, has to be better than this!"

Despite being able to selectively shut off parts of her hearing, Ikiti had to agree with the Tinfectian. The speakers that ambassador Bell's voice was amplified through, emitted a higher-pitched whine that was probably inaudible to most of the species here, but was an annoying buzzing to her ears. She, however, had no intention of following the heavy creatures through the narrow corridors of the building.

"I will meet you outside," she said simply and went to a window to leave. She left the window open in case any of the critters talking about some commercial venture in heated voices ended up getting thrown out. Just common courtesy, really.

Rirten nodded- a gestured they’d learned specifically for interacting with humans- and stepped down from their chair. “Follow me!” they said to Jasot, before hurrying out of the room.

[Elyreia]

it was definitely not the standard attire one would find at a bar, but Korus was all about one thing - presentation. The thin layers of alternating white with the occassional metallic gold hugged snugly to their diminutive figure. Barely standing over five and a half feet tall, rather lean in figure from the looks of it. The topmost layer of clothing was a thin white silk, including a shawl and cowl that covered their head, though their face was fully exposed, pale skin and white bangs covered the right eye almost completely. The left eye, a rich golden color, scanned the bar as they made their way towards the bar itself. Korus could not help but maintain a wide smile as their modest heels clicked softly on the floor with each step. "I have no been in a 'bar' since my officer training days. How exciting! Excuse me," they said, settling down into their seat and addressing one of the bar tenders, "something light on the alcohol, but particularly sweet and palatable, please."

[Groot]

The band finishes with a flourish, and Bell grabs the mic. "And in celebration of 'shine season, I've got the latest from the family still: Several casks of aged Applejack. Just ask Neville to fill up your jug!"

Bell takes a bow.

Groot's jug his filled, and he raises it in the direction of Ambassador Bell. "I am Groot," he says jovially, and takes a swig... then spits it out, spraying moonshine in Neville's direction. "I am Groot," he says apologetically, as an elongated branch grabs a handful of cocktail napkins.

[Morover]

As the door flies open, a spastic man with red hair flies in. With one lazy eye, and an obviously ecstatic attitude, he licks his lips and then opens his mouth for a few seconds before commenting on the surroundings.

"Hello, fellows! My name is Pors George, and I'm in charge of foreign affairs over there in Morover, and I am absolutely dee-lighted to be here. How is everyone on this lovely evening?"

And with that, he jumps, and waits for a response.

[Separatist Peoples]

The band finishes with a flourish, and Bell grabs the mic. "And in celebration of 'shine season, I've got the latest from the family still: Several casks of aged Applejack. Just ask Neville to fill up your jug!"

Bell takes a bow.

Groot's jug his filled, and he raises it in the direction of Ambassador Bell. "I am Groot," he says jovially, and takes a swig... then spits it out, spraying moonshine in Neville's direction. "I am Groot," he says apologetically, as an elongated branch grabs a handful of cocktail napkins.

"Well that's a fine reception for the finest applejack known to mankind." Bell shook his head. "Maybe you'd prefer a jug of Grade B Maple Syrup? Nice and dark with lots of sugar character?"

Bell leans the banjo up against the stage and helps himself to a glass of amber applejack. "Mud in your eye, Groot!"

[Separatist Peoples]

As the door flies open, a spastic man with red hair flies in. With one lazy eye, and an obviously ecstatic attitude, he licks his lips and then opens his mouth for a few seconds before commenting on the surroundings.

"Hello, fellows! My name is Pors George, and I'm in charge of foreign affairs over there in Morover, and I am absolutely dee-lighted to be here. How is everyone on this lovely evening?"

And with that, he jumps, and waits for a response.

"Cheers, buddy! Make sure you give the applejack a try!"

[Whovian Tardisia]

With a horrendous noise that many patrons surely recognized, a blue phone box marked 'Police' appeared to phase into existence in the corner under one of the television screens. Its door burst open, revealing a rather disgruntled fellow in an impeccable blue suit.
"Bloody non-interference policy... burning people alive, for Time's sake... can't do squat. Ugh!"
With that guttural grunt, the man's fist hit the bar, and he suddenly looked up in shock.
"Sorry, Neville. Stressful day. Strongest thing you've got, please."
He glanced around the establishment, as if re calibrating himself to the place. He glowered a bit as his eyes passed over a Wallenburgian uniform. He'd been here a matter of hours ago, but something seemed off...
"I've been gone a while, haven't I?" He asked the nearest patron.

[Elyreia]

Korus glanced the strange fellow in the blue suit over once before taking a sip of their drink, their soft voice in rather delightful harmonious tone responding, "I haven't the nariest idea. This is my first time here. And so far, I find this place more entertaining than the Elyreian naval taverns." Smoothing out their dress, Korus turns to lean back against the bar to stare out across the cornucopia of curious customers concentrated collectively in such a convival colocation. "Though far more varied in appearance. And accents. And eccentricities."

[Hiachijan]

"Ooh, no! I am not splitting the earnings with you." He stops and squints at the Imoya, and then at the Jaran. "You two are conspiring to stop me, aren't you? No matter, I'll get this operation through no matter the resistance."

The Imoya ambassador huffs and walks away, awkwardly, before bumping into a nearby wall.

"Just wanted to make some dosh..." She mutters, before inhaling a batch of nebula fumes stored in her gear.

She glances around. "Hey, anyone willin' to speak with the YC's newest ambassador? Andromeda says 'hi!'" She exclaims, waving a hand full of creepy fingers.

[Elke and Elba]

"Oh Furrettium! How I was wishing you were here, and you are indeed! How are you? How has life been? I've gotten a glass of milk here for you, do you mind joining me at the bar?"

"I had to return the favor did I not, life has been going all over the place for me. Unofficially retired yet still representing my nation while it goes back and forth on what it wants to do, probably typical stuff. I have just been enjoying being lazy around this place." Having probably already had three glasses of milk surprisingly the Ferret could not turn down another when that choice came around, "Sure! How have you been yourself, surely more exciting of a time over this, has it been a year for you out there?"

OOC: My greatest apologies that I haven't replied you in 8 months (goodness gracious) - university and all - and my life has been a bit of an emotional mess (so pardon if it's a bit bleaker than usual Alethea), but here goes!

IC:
Alethea pours yet another glass of milk for the dear Ferret, and passes it gently to Furrettium, while looking down at her own drink.

"You don't have to return the favour, but I really do appreciate it! I hope you've been enjoying this phase of unofficial retirement - you get to do everything and simultaneously nothing at all. It has indeed been a year plus for me out there, and I've been shuffling back and forth - given that this ain't my only role now. Talks about re-shuffling the federation, making the system more consociational... I'd rather be semi-retired, like you my old friend."

Alethea looked upon, realising how rude she was by not looking at Furrettium whilst talking, and continued:

"So, do you have any plans yourself? After this? Or up for a few more glasses of milk? I could certainly use the company of a dear old friend, if you wouldn't mind staying a bit longer and talking. I just hope I ain't holding you up at all..."

With that, Alethea waves her both arms at Neville, the trusty barman, who promptly brings another jug of milk (for the ferret) and a gin (Four Pillars no less) with elderflower cordial (for herself). She needed another drink.

[Separatist Peoples]

With a horrendous noise that many patrons surely recognized, a blue phone box marked 'Police' appeared to phase into existence in the corner under one of the television screens. Its door burst open, revealing a rather disgruntled fellow in an impeccable blue suit.
"Bloody non-interference policy... burning people alive, for Time's sake... can't do squat. Ugh!"
With that guttural grunt, the man's fist hit the bar, and he suddenly looked up in shock.
"Sorry, Neville. Stressful day. Strongest thing you've got, please."
He glanced around the establishment, as if re calibrating himself to the place. He glowered a bit as his eyes passed over a Wallenburgian uniform. He'd been here a matter of hours ago, but something seemed off...
"I've been gone a while, haven't I?" He asked the nearest patron.

"Erm...its been...quite a while, actually. Weeks? Months?"

[Wallenburg]

He glowered a bit as his eyes passed over a Wallenburgian uniform.

"Hey!" Ogenbond, dressed in civilian clothes, shouts at a Wallenburgian soldier loitering in the bar. "You're on duty, get out before I whoop you myself!"

[Elyreia]

"Hey!" Ogenbond, dressed in civilian clothes, shouts at a Wallenburgian soldier loitering in the bar. "You're on duty, get out before I whoop you myself!"

Korus blinks and watches the soldier vacate. "How queer. Are your soldiers not allowed to fraternize in-uniform?" Korus queries while swirling their drink in the glass a bit before taking a sip.

[Wallenburg]

"Hey!" Ogenbond, dressed in civilian clothes, shouts at a Wallenburgian soldier loitering in the bar. "You're on duty, get out before I whoop you myself!"

Korus blinks and watches the soldier vacate. "How queer. Are your soldiers not allowed to fraternize in-uniform?" Korus queries while swirling their drink in the glass a bit before taking a sip.

"They aren't allowed to drink on the job. Back home, we usually consider such behavior unproductive and irresponsible."

[Groot]

Korus blinks and watches the soldier vacate. "How queer. Are your soldiers not allowed to fraternize in-uniform?" Korus queries while swirling their drink in the glass a bit before taking a sip.

"They aren't allowed to drink on the job. Back home, we usually consider such behavior unproductive and irresponsible."

Groot emits a brief but loud belch, then blows a raspberry. "I am Groot," he says to Ogenbond, pointing out that the bar is a perfectly acceptable place for unproductive and irresponsible behavior, whether one wears a uniform or not. He then carelessly knocks three mostly empty root beer bottles to the floor. "I am Groot," he shrugs.